Spectroscopic analysis of the intrinsic chromophores within small multidrug resistance protein SugE

► We examine SugE intrinsic aromatic amino acid residue conformations. ► We characterize SugE conformation in two detergents SDS and DDM. ► We determine that the alpha-helix content of SugE is unchanged by detergent or antiseptic.c ► We examine that antiseptics alter SugE tertiary conformation in DDM only. ► We identify that each antiseptic uniquely alters DDM-SugE aromatic residue arrangements.